Premier league standings tricky

s the tenth round of the Mainland premiership unfolds this weekend, four top placed teams are separated by just three points.

Holders and leaders Simba survived a scare mid this week when Azam failed to capitalize on their floppy performance after drawing with Ruvu Shooting before their own fans at the Chamazi Stadium.

Too clustered is the leader board as Simba who have 19 points have a slim cushion over second placed Azam by just a point, two over third placed Young Africans and three over Coastal Union who have 16 points.

The bunched standings bring the league into high tension as a slip up by one team would ignite a strong repercussion on the standings table.

This weekend’s matches, particularly those lined up tomorrow, would throw the league wide open among the top five positions.

Yanga and Azam have an opportunity to change the trend of the league should either side win tomorrow’s matches in Arusha and Dar es Salaam, respectively.

Yanga meet stubborn JKT Oljoro who will be at their Sheikh Amri Abeid Stadium in Arusha while Simba host unbeaten Azam at the National Stadium in Dar.

Yanga might leapfrog into the league summit should they beat Oljoro and hope for Simba to float at the hands of the ice-cream makers.

A win for Simba would temporarily halt Yanga and Azam in their quest to lead the premiership standings now coming closer to the half way mark.

However, with a match in hand Azam still have huge opportunity to explore and push the rest of the teams o the sidelines on condition they post victories and not drop points through draws or losses.

Unpredictable Azam have a unique habit of displaying poor performance against unheralded sides.

Fourth-placed Coastal Union, who will be visiting Azam Complex for their away match against troubled Ruvu JKT, are in pole position to give headache to the three top placed teams in the standings depending on their performance.

The Tanga top flight side has lost only one match at the hands of Ruvu Shooting after brilliant display to treat their home fans fairly.

Coastal have won four and drew as many matches with the only blemish when they lost to the Coast Region’s Shooting.

The clustered points in the standings are likely to tilt other middle table positioned teams at the end of the tenth round matches.

Mantra extols uranium pluses at minerals indaba

Mantra Tanzania Managing Director, Asa Mwaipopo

Mantra Tanzania and its shareholders are committed to developing the Mkuju River Project in spite of the continuing depressed uranium market after the Fukushima event, the company’s managing director Asa Mwaipopo has declared.

Presenting a paper on Tanzania’s uranium potential during the Tanzania mining, energy, oil, gas and infrastructure Indaba 2012 that kicked off in Arusha yesterday, he said that project will be a win-win situation to the company and the country at large.

The Mkuju River project will be regulated on the basis of the country’s 2010 Mining Act which among other things addresses the need to raise royalties, he said, noting that the project shall make Tanzania a leader in Africa and among the top 10 in the world for uranium mining.

Apart from diversifying the minerals sector, the project will generate direct and indirect cash flows to Tanzania in excess of $640 million over a period of 12 years and also attract FDI in Tanzania excess of $1 billion for the entire period in auxiliary investments, he said.

The project will be developed in accordance with set safety and environmental standards to ensure minimal risks when the mining  starts, he stated.

He however said the biggest challenge for the company is to educate communities surrounding the project and the country at large on the benefits that may come along, helping to win public support.

Earlier, the deputy minister for the Energy portfolio, George Simbachawene, re-affirmed the government’s commitment to support the project because of its economic viability.
“We will go-ahead with mining uranium in areas proved to be with enough mineral resources. We can only consider not doing so if research indicates that mining of the mineral affects the eco-system.

“If for instance we get reports that there are enough mineral resources for instance at the AICC building where I am standing right now, we will have no option but to demolish AICC and go on with the project,” he said.

The three day event brought together key players in the mining industry, including ministerial agencies, company executives, various organisational heads and other interested groups.

SOURCE: THE GUARDIAN

Tanzania signs bilateral air services pact with Germany

Dr Harrison Mwakyembe

Tanzania and Germany have signed a bilateral air service agreement (BASA) to allow airlines from either side to operate in the other country.

Information availed to the media midweek said that Transportation Minister   Dr Harrison Mwakyembe signed the agreement while on a visit to Germany recently.

The contract aims at increasing the number of airlines from Germany to Tanzania and to provide opportunities for registered Tanzanian airlines to fly to Germany.

It is similarly intended to provide opportunities for tourists from Germany and other travelers to travel from Germany to Tanzania and back directly without passing through neighbouring countries.

Speaking to this reporter, a ministerial official said that the contract will also decrease the cost of air transport between Germany and Tanzania.

“This contract will also increase our airport revenues and the country’s economy in general,” he said, noting that after the agreement was signed it must be ratified by parliaments of the two countries.

Dr. Mwakyembe has pledged to revive operations of the ailing national airline   which for years has been staggering back and forth in its route capacity and management.

Airspace is a natural resource which belongs to countries just like land, water, minerals, forests, et cetera. In other words, a big firmament of the airspace above the territory of the United Republic of Tanzania is within her jurisdiction. This principle applies to all sovereign countries around the world. The management and regulation of the airspace in this country is vested with Tanzania Civil Aviation Authority (TCAA).

All resources are exploitable and are governed by certain principles. Just like surface transport between countries is administered under certain laws and bilateral agreements, the same applies to air transportation (movement through airspace) which in this case is governed by what is known as Bilateral Air Services Agreements (BASAs). BASAs are generally negotiated and contracted between two parties although recently there has been a trend to conduct BASAs on a multilateral framework like is the case with the European Union (EU).

Germany is one of Tanzania’s longest standing friends, with relations between both countries traditionally friendly. The country was first a German colony, ‘German East Africa’ (Deutsch-Ostafrika) along with Rwanda and Burundi, separated in 1918 at the end of WW1` which Germany lost.

Tanzania and Germany share the conviction of enhancing welfare of people in peace and security. In line with the good relations between Germany and Tanzania, the government of Germany is committed to the development of Tanzania.

Germany is among Tanzania’s biggest donor countries focusing its technical cooperation on the sectors of health, water and good governance as well as broader budget support.

“In all these sectors Germany acts in close coordination and cooperation with its European partners and international donors. Altogether, Germany has supported the development of Tanzania with about 1. 8 billion euros since 1964,” a ministerial statement indicated.

UN Council to sanction M23 leaders

M23 rebel group soldiers patrol last Saturday in Rangira, near Rutshuru. Two rebel groups active in the Democratic Republic of Congo's restive east, the M23 and FDLR, have formed an alliance and clashed with the country's military, an army spokesman said recently. PHOTOS | AFP

By The Citizen Correspondent
United Nations, Saturday. The UN Security Council said yesterday it intends to sanction leaders of M23 rebels in the Democratic Republic of Congo, and implicitly threatened Rwanda and Uganda, accused of arming the movement.In a confidential report seen this week by AFP, UN experts charged that Kigali and Kampala were arming and supporting the M23 rebels, whose members are former fighters in an ethnic Tutsi rebel movement theoretically integrated into the Congolese military under a 2009 peace deal.
They also accused Rwanda's defence minister, General James Kabarebe, of being the "de facto" commander of the rebellion in the eastern DR Congo.
In a statement, the council fully backed the UN experts, strongly condemned "any and all external support to the M23" and expressed concern at reports showing that such support continues to be provided to the M23 by neighbouring countries, an implicit reference to Rwanda and Uganda.
"The Security Council expresses its intention to apply targeted sanctions against the leadership of the M23 and those acting in violation of the sanctions regime and the arms embargo," it said.
"The Security Council demands that any and all outside support to the M23 as well as other armed groups cease immediately," the 15-nation council added.
The council asked all states in the region to condemn the M23 rebels, work with Congolese authorities to disarm the rebels and other armed groups, and cooperate with UN experts.
The experts' report is to be formally submitted to the Security Council next month.
The Security Council's strong stance comes one day after the UN General Assembly elected Rwanda as a non-permanent member of the Security Council. It begins its two-year mandate in January.
The M23 rebel fighters were incorporated into the DR Congo army in 2009 as part of a peace deal in the troubled, mineral-rich eastern region. They quit the army this year in a dispute over salaries and poor conditions.
In its statement yesterday, the Security Council also asked Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon to come up with proposals for reinforcing the ability of MONUSCO, the UN mission in the DR Congo, to "implement its mandate." (AFP)

Moro Police boss defiant after defeat

Morogoro Police’s player is challenged by Didier Kavumbagu of Young Africans during their Vodacom Premier League match at the National Stadium in Dar es Salaam on Wednesday. Right is Kavumbagu’s teammate David Luhende. Yanga won 3-0 . Photo |michael matemanga

By Majuto Omary
The Citizen Reporter
Dar es Salaam. Morogoro Police head coach John Simkoko remains confident his team will find their way out of trouble despite yet another setback in their Vodacom Premier League match against Young Africans.
“It’s too early in the season to hit a button of pressure,” the unflappable coach said in an interview with The Citizen after Wednesday's 1-0 defeat at the National Stadium.

Questions have been raised over Simkoko’s future following the law-enforcers’ embarrassing start to a league campaign.
While some feel that Wednesday’s defeat, the seventh for Morogoro Police this season, is a clear indication that they will not avoid relegation when the league comes to a close early next year, Simkoko remains defiant, arguing that the result is not at all indicative of his team’s abilities.

“I think we played well. We managed to put them at bay at one point in the second half but suddenly found ourselves down 3-0,” Simkoko, one of the oldest coaches in the Mainland Premier League, said.
“I have a number of quality players at my disposal, it’s only lack of confidence that cost us dearly in our last seven matches,” he insisted.

Police have been far from impressive this season. They have been marking time at the bottom of the 14-team league since the kick off of the top flight league.

They have two points after nine games, 17 behind league leaders Simba and 15 adrift of Yanga.
Other teams that bank on a miracle to avoid relegation are Mwanza’s Toto African and African Lyon, who are 12th and 13th after as many matches.

While Morogoro Police, African Lyon and Toto African battle for survival, it is now a three-horse race for the title involving pace-setters Simba, Azam FC and Yanga.

After a wobbly start to the league, Yanga have been improving after every game. They are now third with 17 points, one behind second-placed Azam FC and two adrift of Simba.Simkoko assured Morogoro Police fans that their first win this season will come on Saturday at the expense of Ruvu Shooting at Chamazi complex.

On Wednesday, Ruvu Shooting forced Azam FC to a one-all at the Chamazi venue, and it is unrealistic that struggling Police will beat them on Saturday.

10 arrested over killing of Mwanza police boss

Liberatus Barlow

The Citizen Correspondents
Mwanza. Police here have released the names of 10 suspects in the killing of Regional Police Commander Liberatus Barlow on October 13.  at Kitangiri area.The men, who were arrested in Dar es Salaam and Mwanza, gave conflicting accounts of the killing—the first that he was part of a love triangle and the second that a crime syndicate wanted Mr Barlow out of the way.

Addressing the media, Director of Criminal Investigation Robert Manumba said the arrest of the suspects was a major step towards solving the puzzle of Mr Barlow’s killing. Flanked by the Inspector General of Police Said Mwema, who flew to Mwanza yesterday, Mr Manumba named the main suspects as Muganyizi Petro, 36, a native of Kagera, and Chacha Mwita, 50 and a native of Mara Region. Magige Marwa, Edward Masota and  Bhoke Mwita were arrested in Dar es Salaam.

Mr Manumba declined to name those arrested in Mwanza on the grounds that they could interfere with the ongoing investigations. In total, seven of the 10 suspects are being held in connection with the killing. “Our end of the investigation is almost complete,” he said. “Those arrested have provided important clues and evidence that the killing was an expert job. We’re trying to get it done as quickly as possible and be as thorough as possible.”

Commander Barlow was shot dead on October 13 at around 1am by assailants dressed as members of a community policing group as he was dropping off a woman identified as Dorothy Moses at her home in Kitangiri area.
Mwanza Regional Commissioner Evarist Ndikilo told journalists a day after the killing that there were indications that the killers knew Mr Barlow and had monitored his movements.

Thousands of Mwanza residents turned out to pay their last respects to Mr Barlow at Nyamagana stadium. They were  led by Regional Commissioner Ndikilo, the minister for Home Affairs Dr Emmanuel Nchimbi and his counterpart from the Prime Minister’s office (Policy and Coordination), Mr William Lukuvi. Local politicians and government officials were in attendance. Also present were representatives of the security and defence forces.

The body was later flown to Dar es Salaam, where his former colleagues, family and friends also had a chance to pay their last respects. He was buried in Kilema village in Kilimanjaro region on October 17.
Ms Moses, who is a teacher at Nyamagana ‘B’ Primary School in the city, is being held at Kirumba Police Station for questioning.

Mr Manumba vowed earlier that he would leave no stone unturned until the killers were brought to book. But later confessed to The Citizen that the investigations into the assassination were getting more and more complicated and those held for questioning had not given any clues, making it difficult to charge them.

An investigator from the Tanzania People’s Defence Forces (TPDF), who preferred to remain anonymous, had earlier told The Citizen that the killers could have been professional hit men since they did not leave any traces behind.
Reported by Frederick Katulanda, Sheilla Sezzy

Prisons` players hurt in accident

Tanzania Prisons players and officials were involved in a road accident on Wednesday night when they were on their way to Tanga to honour their weekend match against hosts Mgambo JKT.

The Mbeya-based top flight side have eight of their players severely injured when their driver in Toyota Coaster mini-bus veered off the road to avoid a head-on collision at Hale.

The team’s head coach Jumanne Chale said their mini-bus skidded three times causing injuries to the rest of the players and officials o board but the eight were severely affected.

Team striker David Motika, who was admitted at Bombo Regional Hospital’s intensive care unit, has however been released yesterday afternoon.

Other players who were seriously injured include Ramadhan Katamba, Issa Mwantika, Lugano Mwangama, Khalid Fungabreki, Daudi Masungwe and Sino Agustino.

Chale said the accident was serious and they just thank God to escape death under miraculous circumstances.

Midfielder Diego Magai said their mini bus avoided the head on collision as a result of high-speed lorry coming in the opposite direction switching full light that blinded their bus driverIt was not immediately known whether their weekend fixture against Mgambo JKT will be pushed back or not as there was no official communication from the Tanzania Football Federation by yesterday afternoon.

Prisons are sixth placed in the standings table with 13 points having won three matches, drawing four and losing twice in their nine appearances.